Response to One Comment

3 Comments:

Well then your father had proven himself at a very early age within the church. But his "calling" as a father is being called into question. He has a gay son, which in his eyes will reflect failure by his fellow TBM's (True Blue Mormons). He must be terrified! I'm sure he wants you to remain closeted.... not for your good, but for his! How can he possibly stand up at the next family reunion and look the other TBM's in the eye!

My father is proud of all his children and we have all taken very different paths in life. He taught, what I believe are true life values: hard work, compassion for our brothers who have less than us, respect for this physical earth, etc. The fact that one of us may have a beer or cuss a blue streak may be a momentary disappointment, but he looks at a much bigger picture. Are we able to take care of our families, are we able to reach out to others (without judging) and offer compassion, are we truly good stewards of our little portion of this earth.

My father, in the eyes of the church, may not "toe the line", and he is definetly not worried about what others think or say about him or his family, but he is content, happy and proud.

BTW, I did not grow up in Utah, I was reared in a small community very close that is predominately mormon. I left that area right after graduation from BYU and now live in the midwest. So consider the advice from a previous poster, and find an area that will be supportive!

MADRID -- Spain legalized same-sex marriages on Thursday, becoming only the fourth country to do so after Belgium, Canada and the Netherlands and overriding fierce opposition from the Catholic Church.

``With the approval of this law, our country takes a further step on the road of freedom and tolerance,'' said Socialist Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who has embarked on a social reform program since his election last year.

Supporters jumped to their feet to celebrate in a crowded public gallery when parliament voted to push the law through. Outside, dozens of same-sex couples hugged and kissed, some of them in tears.

The Catholic Church has strongly resisted Spain's gay marriage law but a survey last year showed 70 percent of Spaniards supported legalizing gay marriage.

``This changes my life 100 percent. It changes the focus of my life from being a bachelor ... to having a formal family with children,'' Evarist Beneyto, a 26-year-old administrator, said.

``I never thought we would get to this point,'' he said.

Mariano Rajoy, leader of Spain's conservative opposition Popular Party which opposed the law, accused Zapatero of acting irresponsibly by pushing through a gay marriage law instead of seeking consensus on a less far-reaching civil unions law.

DIVISIONS

``He has caused an enormous division in Spanish society,'' he said. Rajoy said the Popular Party would study an appeal to Spain's constitutional court and a party colleague said it would consider repealing the law if it returned to office.

Earlier this month, bishops and nuns marched through Madrid with hundreds of thousands of Spaniards to protest against gay marriage and last month Spanish Roman Catholic bishops commanded all Catholics to resist applying the same-sex marriage law.

Spain's Congress on Thursday approved the bill, overriding the upper house, the Senate, which had rejected it.

The law gives same-sex unions the same status as heterosexual ones, including inheritance rights, pensions and the adoption of children.

During the 1939 to 1975 dictatorship of Francisco Franco, homosexuality, divorce and abortion were illegal. But since Franco's death the country has adopted some of the most liberal views in Europe.

Zapatero's liberal reforms are popular among young people. Fewer than a fifth of them are practicing Catholics.

Canada on Tuesday became the third country to legalize same-sex marriages. Belgium allowed for them in June 2003. The Netherlands allowed same sex-marriages in December 2000 although Dutch law had recognized registered partnerships since 1998.

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About Me

I was first introduced to blogging by one of my professors during Winter Semester 2004. I didn't really understand it then, and I'm not sure I do today. However, I have learned that a blog can basically be anything you want it to be. With that in mind, I have created this blog as a way to describe my little conflict. Here's my problem: I'm gay and I'm Mormon. If you don't know already, the two don't mix very well. Though very few people will likely ever read this blog, I plan to use it as a way to describe my struggles, figure out my emotions, and work to overcome my problems.

To begin, I was born and raised in Utah. I'm the youngest in my family, and I have to admit that being the youngest is the best. I graduated from Brigham Young University in 2005. I'm currently working a great job in a great area. (How's that for vague?) I don't have any special talents, but I do enjoy singing -- though I don't do it well. I'm also a fan of politics -- conservative. I know, it's ironic that I'm conservative and a homosexual. Anyhow, if you have questions about me, just ask.